Manufacture of windshield wiper blades

ABSTRACT

The method of making a distendable stationary window wiper blade which is suitable for cleaning a movable window as in station wagons. The blade is distendable by fluid pressure to simultaneously press the wiper blade against the window and spray liquid against the window to provide means for lubricating and wetting the window. Such wiper blade is made by encasing a tube with fabric reinforced material, folding such fabric material over the tube to cover such tube completely, adhering a thin bead along the central length thereof and cutting such blade into predetermined lengths.

United States Patent 1191 Kuts Jan. 8, 1974 MANUFACTURE OF WINDSHIELDWIPER' 1,686,466 /1928 Putt 156/460 BLADES 2,696,865 12/1954 OeilerM.161/107 X 2,732,882 1/1956 Kuts 156/467 X [75] Inventor: Mathew Kuts,Akron, Oh1o [73] Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company, New PrimaryExaminer Alfred L Leavitt York Assistant Examinen-David/A. Simmons [22]Filed: u 26, 1972 Att0rneyJ0se'ph Januszkiewicz et a1.

[21] Appl. No.: 266,149 Related 0.5. Application Data 1 B TRACT [62] g zz fg z 1971' The method of making a distendable stationary window wiperblade which is suitable for cleaninga mov- [52] U S Cl 156/201 15/250 36156/202 able window as in station wagons. The blade is dis- 156/216tendable by fluid pressure to simultaneously press the I t CI B31f7/00wiper blade against the window and spray liquid [58] 25041 against thewindow to provide means for lubricating 53 f and wetting the window.Such wiper blade is made by 156/200 6 s encasing a tube with fabricreinforced material, fold- 5 ing such fabric material over the tube tocover such tube completely, adhering a thin bead along the cen- 56]Retferences Cited tgalnlienrlgdtlzetihgetrlesof and cutt ng such blademto prede.

uumzo STATES PATENTS 1,545,815 7/1925 Dirkson et a1. 156/403 5 Claims, 8Drawing Figures 1 1 5 11 2832 I 4? 52 f 63 f & .25.. 1/? 3 "2 I 65 P6 P180 1 2943 4 4s Sta Q9 a A 20 1 MANUFACTURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADESCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisionof co-pending application Ser. No. 135,092 filed Apr. 19, 1971, now US.Pat. No. 3,697,356.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method formaking distendable blades which blades are distendable upon actuationand simultaneously dispense fluids against a movable window tofacilitate the cleaning thereof. This type of wiper blade isparticularly useful for cleaning power operated windows in a motorvehicle such as the remotely operated rear window of a station wagon.

Prior to this invention wiper blade assemblies have consisted primarilyof a wiper blade supported by mechanical spring mechanisms which biasthe wiper blade against the associated window. The spring mechanismshave been leaf springs essentially similar to the form of supportscommonly used on power operated oscillating wipers for automobileWindshields. Such prior art wiper blade assemblies are not adaptable asa practical matter for use on the rear windows of station wagons due tothe problem of remoteness of power, complex controls and the fact thatwiping area of the oscillating wiper blade is unsatisfactory because itspattern of cleaning is a sector of a circle and not acceptable when suchwiper blades are used on large rectangular shaped windows as in thelarge rear window of a station wagon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The wiper blade of this invention provides forthe selective engagement and disengagement of a wiper bead from anadjacently located window through the use of a simple fluid pressuresystem. Preferably, liquid pressure is used to position the wiper bladeso that as the blade is positioned, the fluid medium is dispensedagainst the window that is to be cleaned. Such spraying liquid medium onthe window is done simultaneously with the engagement of the wiper beadwith the window. That is the washing and the wiping function areprovided in a single integral assembly. The present invention providesthe novel means and apparatus for making such wiper blade. Heretofore,the fabrication of such blades were a hand operation confined tomanipulating the various elastomeric stock by hand.

The method of this invention provides for a simplified means forconstructing a unitary'wiper blade in an economical manner whicheliminates hand operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational viewof the apparatus for fabricating a window wiper blade.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus for fabricating awindow wiper blade.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a tube and rubberizedfabric being pressed into position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the rubberized fabrichaving its one edge folded onto the tube by roller means.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the rubberized fabrichaving its second edge folded onto the tube.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the rubberized fabricbeing finnly pressed into engagement.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the fabricated wiperblade being turned over.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the fabricated wiperblade having a bead pressed into engagement with the body portion of thewiper blade.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shownin FIG. 1 a supporting structure or support means designated generallyby the reference character 10. Support means 10 includes a plurality ofvertical supports 11, 12 and 13 with suitable cross braces includinghorizontally extending support 14 (FIG. 2). Mounted on support means 10are a pair of spaced pulleys l6 and 18 upon which is trained an endlessbelt 20 to present an upper conveying run and a lower return run. Theconveying run of endless belt 20 adjacent topulley 16 is the receivingend while the conveying run of belt 20 adjacent to pulley 18 is thedischarge end. Pulley 18 is driven by a motor drive unit 21 mounted onhorizontally extending support 14. Suitably mounted on the other end ofsupport 14 is a motor drive unit 22 which drives a supply means or reel23. Reel 23 has a supply of fabric reinforced elastomeric material ortape 25 wound thereon. Energization of motor drive unit 22 unwinds thetape 25 for passage under idler roller 26 and over roller 27 for passageunder a dancer roller 28. A separate roll not shown may be used to windup the liner that is used with tape 25 to prevent it from sticking tothe other portions of the tape on reel 23. Dancer 28 is guided forvertical movement in suitable guide means not shown such that theposition of a lever arm 29 connected to dancer roll 28 is operative tocontrol the en ergization and de-energization of motor 22. One end of alever 29 is operative to actuate a plurality of limit switches inhousing 30 to control such motor 22. The operation of motor 22 controlsthe rotation of reel 23 in such a manner that it maintains a suitablesupply of tape 25 in an untensioned condition for passage onto thereceiving end of endless belt 20. Tape 25 upon movement from dancer roll28 is directed upwardly over idler roll 31 and thence through a pair ofspaced guides 32, 32 for movement onto conveyor 20. A supply means orsupply reel 35 is suitably mounted on a bracket 36 which reel 35supplies an elastomeric tube 37 which passes over idler roller 38 forpassage onto a tank 39 mounted on a T-shaped support 40. Tank 39contains a cement solution which coats the exterior of the tube 37 as itpasses therethrough. T-shaped support 40 contains a second idler roller41 which directs the passage of tube 37 over idler roller 38, thenceinto tank 39 for subsequent movement over idler roller 41 and thence ina direction downwardly towards a grooved roller 42 which is suitablyjoumaled on support means 10 immediately above pulley 16,. the width ofthe groove in roller 42 is substantially the same as that of the tube37, which is shown in FIG. 3 and permits the guiding of the tube 37downwardly into position on the moving tape 25. Mounted on the supportmeans 10 are a pair of brackets 45 and 46 which suitably support foldingmeans such as turn-up rolls 47 and 48, which rolls 47 and 48 are instaggered relationship to facilitate 25 as more clearly shown in FIGS. 4and 5. The side edge a" of tape is turned over in advance of the sizeedge b to facilitate the encasement of the tube 37 by the tape 25.Mounted on the intermediate portion of horizontal support 14 is abracket which journals for rotation a roller 51. Roller 51 is in rollingengagement with the upper portion of the tape 25. Suitably journaled onthe same axle that supports roller 51 is a bracket 52 whose outboard endsupports for rotation a roller 53, which roller 53 has a reduced endportion 54 and an enlarged portion 55. The diameter of the reducedportion 54 is such that it maintains a firm contact with the side edgeof the tape 25 b as seen more clearly in FIG. 6. A chain 58interconnects the axle which supports roller 53 and the axle whichsupports roller 51 such that the rotation of 51 drives chain 58 and theroller 53. Since the diameter of roller 53 is less than that of roller51, the peripheral speed of roller 53 is substantially greater than thatof roller 51 which thereby performs a thorough stitching action on thetape 25. Roller 51 and 53 together perform the stitching operation. Asecond stitching roller 59 is located adjacent to roller 53, suitablyjournaled on a pair of brackets 60 and 61.

Encased tube 37 along with the fabric reinforced tape .25 form the wipercore of the wiper blade. Mounted on support means 10 are a pair ofbrackets 62 and 63 which support for rotation idler rollers 64 and 65whose function is to turn over the core body, or the encased tube 37along with tape 25, to present upwardly the tape 25 without a splicedsection for a purpose to be described.

Mounted on one side edge of support means 10 is a grooved roller whichis operative to guide bead 71 from a suitable supply source to an idlerroller 72 whose axis extends in avertical direction such that the bead71 is trained around such pulley 72. Bracket 73 and 74 mounted adjacentto idler roller 72 support for rotation a pair of vertically disposedrollers 75 and 76 wherein roller 76 is grooved centrally therein as at77 as shown in FIG. 8 to accommodate the passage of the bead 71, suchthat the rotation of roller 76 deposits the bead 71 onto the uppersurface of tape 25. Roller 76 also performs the function of adheringsuch bead to the tape 25. An anvil 78 is mounted in alignment with theupper conveying run of endless belt 20 for cooperation with apneumatically operated cutting means 79 to sever the wiper blade beingfabricated in a manner to be described. Cutting means 79 consists of acutting blade 80 that is suitably mounted on the rod end of a pneumaticcylinder 81, which cylinder 81 is mounted on a bracket 82. The upperconveying run of endless belt 20 is trained about an idler pulley 83 formovement down and around a lower idler pulley 84 and thence over anidler pulley 85 to bypass the anvil 78. A counting device 88 is mountedon support 14 such that its outer rolling element 89 is in contact withthe conveying belt 20 to precisely measure the length of fabric passingthereunder and being operative to energize pneumatic cylinder 81 upon apredetermined length of belt passing thereunder for the cuttingoperation to provide a predetermined length of wiper blade. Such bladesare then vulcanized in a manner well known in the art.

In the operation of the fabricating apparatus, reel 35 supplies the tube37 which passes through tank 39 which coats the exterior surface of thetube with cement, after which such tube 37 passes downwardly towards thereceiving end of the endless belt 20. Simultaneously with such actionreel 23 supplies the tape 25, which tape 25 is directed by guide means32 to the receiving end of the endless belt 20. The cement covered tube37 is deposited on the tape 25 and is pressed firmly thereto through theaction of the roller 42. The tape 25 travels along with the conveyingrun of belt 20. Thereafter the respective side edges of the tape arefolded over the tube 37 through the action of the turnup rollers 47 and48 such that the tube is encased within the tape. Stitching rollers 51,53 and 59 stitch the tape to the tube. Thereafter rollers 64 and 65 turnthe encased tube completely over in preparation for having the bead 71centered and placed centrally thereon. The encased tube along with bead71 forms a wiper blade of continuous length which is cut intopredetermined lengths by the cutting means 79 as controlled by thecounting device 88 which counting device can be pre-set to provide forany length of cut desired. The cut tube is then vulcanized in a mannerwell known in the art and then providedwith a plurality of holes thatlie closely adjacent to the bead 71 communicating the central passagewayin tube 37 with the exterior thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of making wiper blades comprising the steps of conveying acontinuous length of elongated fabric reinforced tape in a longitudinaldirection onto the receiving end of a conveyor means for movementtherewith; conveying a continuous length of an elongated flat tube forpositioning onto said moving tape at the receiving end of the conveyormeans with the longitudinal center line of said tube being in alignmentwith the center line of said fabric tape, folding the respective sideedges of said fabric-tape over said tube to encase said tube; stitchingsaid continuously moving tube and tape into firm adhesion to each otherto form a wiper core; directing a bead onto the center line of saidwiper core to form a continuous wiper blade; and cutting the wiper coreinto predetermined lengths to form a wiper blade.

2. A method for making wiper blades as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidstitching means is done by rotating wheels into contact with said tubeand tape wherein one of said rotating wheels is driven at a faster speedthan the remaining rotating wheels to provide a firm adhesion of theoverlapping tape to said tube.

3. A method of making a wiper blade comprising the steps of adhering alongitudinally extending tube centrally to an elongated strip of fabricreinforced elastomeric material, folding said fabric material over saidtube to cover the tube completely with said fabric reinforced material,adhering a thin elongated bead to said fabric reinforced material toform a continuous length wiper blade, cutting said continuous lengthwiper blade into wiper blades of predetermined length, and vulcanizingsaid wiper blades.

4. The method of making a wiper blade as set forth in claim 3 curingsaid fabric reinforced material with bead thereon.

5. A method of making a wiper blade comprising the steps of feeding acontinuous fabric reinforced tape of elastomeric material in alongitudinal direction; coating the exterior of an elastomeric tube ofcontinuous length with cement; feeding said coated elastomeric tube ontosaid tape for longitudinal alignment thereon; folding said tape over toencase said tube; feeding a continuous length of bead onto said tape toform a wiper blade of continuous length; cutting said continuous lengthof wiper blade tube into predetermined lengths; and vulcanizing saidwiper blades.

1. The method of making wiper blades comprising the steps of conveying acontinuous length of elongated fabric reinforced tape in a longitudinaldirection onto the receiving end of a conveyor means for movementtherewith; conveying a continuous length of an elongated flat tube forpositioning onto said moving tape at the receiving end of the conveyormeans with the longitudinal center line of said tube being in alignmentwith the center line of said fabric tape, folding the respective sideedges of said fabric tape over said tube to encase said tube; stitchingsaid continuously moving tube and tape into firm adhesion to each otherto form a wiper core; directing a bead onto the center line of saidwiper core to form a continuous wiper blade; and cutting the wiper coreinto predetermined lengths to form a wiper blade.
 2. A method for makingwiper blades as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stitching means isdone by rotating wheels into contact with said tube and tape wherein oneof said rotating wheels is driven at a faster speed than the remainingrotating wheels to provide a firm adhesion of the overlapping tape tosaid tube.
 3. A method of making a wiper blade comprising the steps ofadhering a longitudinally extending tube centrally to an elongated stripof fabric reinforced elastomeric material, folding said fabric materialover said tube to cover the tube completely with said fabric reinforcedmaterial, adhering a thin elongated bead to said fabric reinforcedmaterial to form a continuous length wiper blade, cutting saidcontinuous length wiper blade into wiper blades of predetermined length,and vulcanizing said wiper blades.
 4. The method of making a wiper bladeas set forth in claim 3 curing said fabric reinforced material with beadthereon.
 5. A method of making a wiper blade comprising the steps offeeding a continuous fabric reinforced tape of elastomeric material in alongitudinal direction; coating the exterior of an elastomeric tube ofcontinuous length with cement; feeding said coated elastomeric tube ontosaid tape for longitudinal alignment thereon; folding said tape over toencase said tube; feeding a continuous length of bead onto said tape toform a wiper blade of continuous length; cutting said continuous lengthof wiper blade tube into predetermined lengths; and vulcanizing saidwiper blades.